Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7753False imprisonment, aggravated burglary, violent disorder, arson and assault causing harm · Co. Roscommon · 16 Dec 2018

Three men sentenced to 15 years over Strokestown eviction attack

On 16 December 2018, around 30 armed men smashed into a recently repossessed house at Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, at about 5am, attacking security guards Ian Gordon, Mark Rissen, John Graham and Gary McCourtney. Martin O'Toole (59), PJ Sweeney (44) and Paul Beirne (57), all men, were found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in June 2023 on 15 charges, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder and false imprisonment. A fourth accused, David Lawlor, was found not guilty. On 28 July 2023 each of the three men was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with the sentences running concurrently, backdated to when they entered custody, and no part suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced28 Jul
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Around 30 armed men smashed into a recently repossessed house at Falsk around 5am.
  • The attack was carried out on security guards at the repossessed farmhouse, including Ian Gordon, Mark Rissen, John Graham and Gary McCourtney.
Where
The incident happened at Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon.
When
The incident happened on 16 December 2018, at around 5am.
Cause
The group was said to have gone to take back the house for the previous owner and his brother, who had been evicted five days earlier.
Weapon
The group was armed with a baseball bat, a meat cleaver, a hurley, a stick with nails in it, and a chain saw.
Other details
  • A dog belonging to Ian Gordon was struck on the head and later had to be put down.
  • The case was prosecuted on the principle of common design.
Charges
  • Martin O'Toole (59), PJ Sweeney (44) and Paul Beirne (57) were found guilty in June 2023 of 15 charges, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder and criminal damage to a door of a house.
  • The three men were also found guilty of false imprisonment of, and assault causing harm to, the four security guards, three counts of arson relating to three vans, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
In court
  • A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court returned the guilty verdicts after a trial of over three months, and acquitted the men of one robbery count of a wristwatch and one arson count relating to a car.
  • David Lawlor, a fourth accused, was found not guilty.
Sentence
  • Each of the three men was sentenced to 15 years for the false imprisonment of Ian Gordon, 14 years for the false imprisonment of the other three security guards, and 13, 10, 8 and 5 years for the other offences.
  • All sentences run concurrently and are backdated to the date the men entered custody.
  • The judge declined to suspend any part of the sentences, which were handed down on 28 July 2023.
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAround 30 armed men smashed their way into a house at the repossessed property. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThree men were each sentenced to 15 years in prison for offences during an attack by a group on security guards at a repossessed farmhouse in Roscommon. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAbout 30 armed men smashed into a house at a recently repossessed property at Falsk around 5am. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe attack happened at Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident happened at Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe attack happened at around 5am on December 16, 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident happened on 16 December 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe group was armed with a baseball bat, a meat cleaver, a hurley, a stick with nails in it, and a chain saw. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe three men were found guilty in June of 15 charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe charges included aggravated burglary, violent disorder and criminal damage to a door of a house. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe men were found guilty of false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security guards. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe men were found guilty of three counts of arson in relation to three vans. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe men were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe three men were found guilty in June of 15 charges, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder and criminal damage to a door of a house. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe three men were also found guilty of false imprisonment of and assault causing harm to four security guards. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe three men were convicted of three counts of arson relating to three vans and of animal cruelty. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury acquitted the men of robbery of a wristwatch and one count of arson in relation to a car. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA fourth man, David Lawlor, was found not guilty of the same 17 charges. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court returned guilty verdicts after a trial of over three months. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court returned guilty verdicts on 15 charges and acquitted the men of one robbery count and one arson count. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceEach of the three accused was sentenced to 15 years for the false imprisonment of Mr Gordon. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceSentences of 14 years were given for the false imprisonment of the other three security guards. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceSentences of 13 years, ten years, eight years and five years were given for the other offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceAll sentences are to run concurrently and are backdated to the date the men entered custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge declined to suspend any part of the sentences. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceEach of the three accused was given 15 years for the false imprisonment of Ian Gordon. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceAll sentences run concurrently and are backdated to the date the men entered custody. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA dog belonging to Mr Gordon was struck on the head and later had to be put down. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe case was prosecuted on the principle of common design. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe group was said to have gone to take back the house for the previous owner and his brother, who had been evicted five days earlier. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA dog belonging to Ian Gordon was struck on the head and later had to be put down. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Jul2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Heckling in court as three men jailed for 15 years over Strokestown eviction

    Sentencing report for the three men convicted in June 2023 after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. It also reports that a fourth accused, David Lawlor, was found not guilty.

    convicted, Martin O'Toole, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin O'Tooleconvicted, PJ Sweeney, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)PJ Sweeneyconvicted, Paul Beirne, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Beirnevictim, Ian Gordon, irish (judged from name)Ian Gordonvictim, Mark RissenMark Rissenvictim, John Graham, irish (judged from name)John Grahamvictim, Gary McCourtney, irish (judged from name)Gary McCourtney
  2. 28 Jul2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Strokestown repossession case: Three men sentenced to 15 years each for involvement in ‘mob’ attack

    Sentencing of three convicted men at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; all sentences to run concurrently; fourth accused acquitted.

    convicted, Martin O'Toole, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin O'Tooleconvicted, PJ Sweeney, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)PJ Sweeneyconvicted, Paul Beirne, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Beirneaccused, David Lawlor, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Lawlorvictim, Ian Gordon, irish (judged from name)Ian Gordonvictim, Mark RissenMark Rissenvictim, John Graham, irish (judged from name)John Grahamvictim, Gary McCourtney, irish (judged from name)Gary McCourtney